The general secretary of the American Association of University Professors spoke out against U.S. News & World Report's college rankings Wednesday in an attempt to encourage colleges to focus on serving the public good, rather than competing with one another for prestige, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. AAUP leader Gary Rhoades called for the change in an open letter to President Barack Obama as well as in a recent speech delivered to higher education advocates in Washington, D.C. The letter also criticizes colleges' alleged desire to attract wealthier students, which Rhoades said has contributed to decreased diversity, The Chronicle reported.
Students who are accepted to college through early decision programs are more likely to regret their college choices in the future, according to a report released Wednesday by Michigan State University sociologist Barbara Schneider, USA Today reported. Some admissions officials hope that the recent study will inspire individuals to concentrate on finding a school that is the right fit, rather than getting accepted at the earliest possible date, USA Today reported.
Administrators at the University of Minnesota have decided to eliminate its free-standing graduate school and establish an Office of Graduate Education within the Provost's Office, Inside Higher Ed reported Thursday. The decision stemmed from a combination of budget issues and pressure to simplify administrative procedures to improve graduate education. Deans had criticized the graduate school for interfering with the creation of new academic programs, according to Inside Higher Ed. The Office of Graduate Education will allow deans to explore potential graduate programs independently. Decentralization may help save money, which can then be allocated to fellowships and other improvements, officials told Inside Higher Ed.
